BigAlTheBird
Guest
What's up guys? Long time no see. Sorry I've been a ghost last 2 weeks, was out of state and then moving. Got to leave in 5 minutes to move the last stuff out of the old apartment, and then I'm back 100%. Wanted to throw this topic up before I leave though.
So for the three of you that care
)) here's what I was doing in my time off from the forum. I'll keep it short, since there's not much to report.
First up (because it's coolest) is my 1954 Gretsch Electromatic Twin amp. I got this from a dude who has owned it since the mid 60's, and he's loved it every day. But it hasn't worked for 20 years, so he's stored it. I suppose he just wanted to let it go to someone else. Below are the pictures from the 1955 Gretsch ad (notice the price on this puppy! :bigeyes:
And here are the pictures of the amp from the seller. See that big ass stain? It's a Pabst Blue Ribbon he spilled in 1968. Pretty cool, I think:
So here's some pics I took when I got it. When it came, it didn't work at all. Over the last month I replaced some tubes, and did some small electric work, and she works now! Very quiet, she needs a few new caps. But sound comes out, that's all I care about at the moment.
Not the prettiest wiring job, but it's handwired and all tube, so who cares!
And here she is, moderately cleaned up and with my other 2 babies (at the old apartment):
That last pic leads me to my next big change, I bought my first acoustic! Yay! The Gretsch Americana came, and it's a treat. Sounds better than you'd expect (obviously not great, but more than decent), and plays just fine. Plus, for $99, it's just too darn cool to pass up. That's really the only picture I have at the moment, but it'll work.
Last, we've got my latest work on my Green Buddy, and then to the news that basically made this year for me. Long story short, I simply replaced the bridge pickup ring (the old white one) with a Gretsch Silver Surround. Neck is coming when I can afford the Super'Tron ($200). Here's the before and after:
And here's my favorite picture, and the one that led to the best e-mail I've ever gotten:
So I post these on the TV Jones forum in my massive thread (here) and I get this e-mail from Tom the next day:
"Hi Big Al III
We dig what you've done with your 1962 Liberty Custom MT-280.
May we have permission to possibly use some of these photos on
the TVJones.com website? It's an inspiration!
Thanks,
Tom"
Basically made my life. Even if he doesn't use them ever, just the fact that he was cool enough to ask if he could use them and that he wants to use them makes this entire project that much more special. Of course I told him (while shaking) that absolutely he can use them.
So that's my news. I'll leave with a few group shots of the guitars and amps here at my new apartment. The walls are bare, but won't be for long. And my poor Fenders are all down in LA, I don't bring them up with me.
'Twas a great few months! By the way, I lost my wire cutters. So that's why all my strings are the way they are.
So for the three of you that care
)) here's what I was doing in my time off from the forum. I'll keep it short, since there's not much to report.First up (because it's coolest) is my 1954 Gretsch Electromatic Twin amp. I got this from a dude who has owned it since the mid 60's, and he's loved it every day. But it hasn't worked for 20 years, so he's stored it. I suppose he just wanted to let it go to someone else. Below are the pictures from the 1955 Gretsch ad (notice the price on this puppy! :bigeyes
:
And here are the pictures of the amp from the seller. See that big ass stain? It's a Pabst Blue Ribbon he spilled in 1968. Pretty cool, I think:
So here's some pics I took when I got it. When it came, it didn't work at all. Over the last month I replaced some tubes, and did some small electric work, and she works now! Very quiet, she needs a few new caps. But sound comes out, that's all I care about at the moment.
Not the prettiest wiring job, but it's handwired and all tube, so who cares!
And here she is, moderately cleaned up and with my other 2 babies (at the old apartment):
That last pic leads me to my next big change, I bought my first acoustic! Yay! The Gretsch Americana came, and it's a treat. Sounds better than you'd expect (obviously not great, but more than decent), and plays just fine. Plus, for $99, it's just too darn cool to pass up. That's really the only picture I have at the moment, but it'll work.
Last, we've got my latest work on my Green Buddy, and then to the news that basically made this year for me. Long story short, I simply replaced the bridge pickup ring (the old white one) with a Gretsch Silver Surround. Neck is coming when I can afford the Super'Tron ($200). Here's the before and after:
And here's my favorite picture, and the one that led to the best e-mail I've ever gotten:
So I post these on the TV Jones forum in my massive thread (here) and I get this e-mail from Tom the next day:
"Hi Big Al III
We dig what you've done with your 1962 Liberty Custom MT-280.
May we have permission to possibly use some of these photos on
the TVJones.com website? It's an inspiration!
Thanks,
Tom"
Basically made my life. Even if he doesn't use them ever, just the fact that he was cool enough to ask if he could use them and that he wants to use them makes this entire project that much more special. Of course I told him (while shaking) that absolutely he can use them.
So that's my news. I'll leave with a few group shots of the guitars and amps here at my new apartment. The walls are bare, but won't be for long. And my poor Fenders are all down in LA, I don't bring them up with me.
'Twas a great few months! By the way, I lost my wire cutters. So that's why all my strings are the way they are.
